Funding Acquisition Learning Pathway
This four-part workshop series, offered by IXA-GO, equips VU researchers with the practical knowledge, skills, and tools needed to navigate the funding landscape with clarity, confidence, and purpose. The program walks you through the core elements of a compelling proposal - Alignment, Clarity, and Persuasion - and provides first-hand practical insights into the funding support ecosystem at VU.
By the end of the series, participants will have:
- a working draft proposal tailored to a specific call, and
- a clear roadmap towards submission.
Each workshop builds on the previous one: from aligning your project with a funder's priority, to developing a clear message and proposal structure, to crafting persuasive narratives, and finally embedding your project within VU's institutional processes.
Who is it for?
This pathway is intended for assistant, associate, and full professors at VU, Amsterdam who wish to develop their technical grant-writing skills. Participants should have:
- a specific funding opportunity in mind,
- an initial project idea, and
- the motivation to further develop it within the Learning Pathway.
Participants will produce two work-in-progress drafts and receive individual developmental feedback from IXA-GO grants officers, with the goal of generating a high-quality proposal aligned with their own submission timeline.
Content of the Workshops
What can you expect?
This Learning Pathway is consists of four in-person workshops supported by homework assignments and supplementary reading. Attendence at all four workshop is required. Course materials will be available on Canvas.
Module 1: Alignment
An introduction to identifying the right funding opportunity for your idea. This session covers how to analyse and interpret call texts, assess fit, and strategically adapt your project to a specific scheme.
Module 2: Clarity
Learn how to move from a well-formed research idea to a clear proposal outline. Topics include writing SMART objectives, developing a coherent structure, using subheadings effectively, and breaking your project into realistic work packages.
Module 3: Persuasion
This module focuses on crafting compelling narrative components of the proposal. You will learn how to write a strong abstract, position your profile using a narrative CV, develop persuasive sections such as the introduction and state-of-the-art, and strike the right balance between innovation and feasibility.
Module 4: Navigation
Understand the institutional processes and resources that support proposal development at VU Amsterdam. Participants will learn about timelines, requirements, and practical aspects of submission, including drafting impact and budget plans.
Throughout the course, the emphasis is on converting your research idea into a well-developed and competetive funding proposal.
Costs
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Due to the intense nature of this course and our commitment to maintaining a safe, collegial environment for sharing ideas, participation is limited to 20 people. We aim to offer the course multiple times per year.
Certificate and Credit
A certificate of participation is available upon completion. We are also exploring formal recognition at the faculty level—please let us know if this is important to you.
Questions?
Interested in learning more or want to register? Contact Robin Smith or Scott Hayes at: subsidiedesk@vu.nl
For all questions about grant support, please contact IXA-GO, the central Grants Office of VU Amsterdam.
